Archive for the ‘Luis Alberto Quispe Aparici’ tag

Why exactly somebody crafted a scale model of one of the world’s most famous dragsters out of ruby, we can only guess. After all, aren’t there any yellow gems that would work well? Historical accuracy aside, it stands to become perhaps the world’s most expensive gemstone-based model dragster (a bustling market, we’re sure) later this year when it crosses the block in Los Angeles.

According to Bonhams, which will include the ruby dragster at its Gems, Minerals, and Lapidary Works of Art sale, designer Luis Alberto Quispe Aparici created the model with ruby for the panels; obsidian for the tires; gold vermeil for the engine, wheels and chassis components; and rock crystal for the windscreen. Quispe Aparici based the model on the Greer-Black-Prudhomme dragster, a car funded by Tommy Greer, powered by a Keith Black-built blown Chrysler 392 Hemi, built by Kent Fuller, and painted and shoed by legendary drag racer Don Prudhomme. Granted, it didn’t always wear its signature yellow paint – when it debuted in June 1962, it was red and the team hadn’t yet adorned its engine with that unique scoop – but with eight-second runs at 190 MPH and a win rate of about 90 percent over the next two years, did it really matter what color Prudhomme painted it?

Bonhams estimates that the 60-centimeter-long model will sell for $150,000 to $200,000 at the auction, which takes place May 21 to 22. The real Greer-Black-Prudhomme dragster, by the way, is currently owned by collector Bruce Meyer.

As if the dragster model weren’t enough noteworthy automotive art crossing the block in coming months, Bonhams will also offer a print of Malcolm Campbell’s land-speed record-setting Bluebird found hanging in a garage that’s expected to sell for up to $90,000. According to Bonhams, the owner of the Cyril Edward Power print titled “Speed Trial” had it for 25 years and thought little of it other than that it’d make good garage decor, worth no more than £20, before he showed it to Bonhams representatives, who recognized it as much more valuable. They estimated its value to be between £40,000 and £60,000 (about $60,000 to $90,000); Bonhams noted that a similar image sold last year for £96,000 (about $145,000). The print will go up for sale at the Bonhams Grosvenor School and Avant-Garde British Printmaking sale, scheduled for April 16.